Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

  • Rachel Bryant-Waugh

    ARFID in Autistic Young People: Assessment, Overlap and Practical Clinical Management

    Dr. Rachel Bryant-Waugh leads this advanced three-hour online event brings together leading experts to explore assessment, differential diagnosis, and formulation in this high-risk clinical group.

    Event type
    Update session
    Location
    LIVE STREAM
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  • young girl drawing at a desk

    What Is Autism Now?

    Autism was first described as a clinical condition in the mid-twentieth century and was long considered of low prevalence. Since the 1990s, autism prevalence has increased substantially, particularly in high-income countries. This rise has prompted public and professional debate, including concerns of over-diagnosis and suggestions of an “autism epidemic.” Current research and conceptual analysis suggest that these interpretations are not supported by the available evidence. Instead, changes in diagnostic practices, alongside shifts in social, educational, and economic environments, have reshaped how autism is recognised and understood.

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  • Eleanor Leigh

    Meet the expert: Practical techniques for managing social anxiety in everyday clinical work, with Dr. Eleanor Leigh

    We caught up with Dr. Eleanor Leigh, Associate Professor and MRC Clinician Scientist Fellow at the University of Oxford, to talk about practical techniques for managing social anxiety in everyday clinical work.

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  • Close up headshot portrait of cute happy small preschooler girl with toothy smile look at camera posing, funny little child sit relax have fun on sofa in living room, feel optimistic and positive

    Autism and ADHD: diagnosis and demand in neurodevelopmental care. Emanuel Miller International Online Conference

    HUGE EARLY BIRD SAVING! This conference will explore current debates around autism and ADHD, focusing on how scientific evidence, diagnostic practices, and rising demand for assessment intersect within contemporary neurodevelopmental care. Bringing together leading experts, the programme will examine how changes in diagnostic frameworks, service pressures, and social contexts shape who receives a diagnosis, when, and with what implications for young people, families, and services.

    Event type
    Emanuel Miller International Conference
    Location
    LIVE STREAM
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  • 24

    Understanding mental health challenges in autism and ADHD: A focus on schools as a source of emotional burden

    The aim of this event is to share insights and outputs from Regulating Emotions – Strengthening Adolescent Resilience (RE-STAR), a UKRI-funded research programme which is trying understand why young neurodivergent people are at elevated risk for mental health problems.

    Event type
    FREE live stream
    Location
    FREE live stream
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  • 16

    Physical health of children and young people with learning disabilities – Joint CAIDPN/BACD Conference

    Join us for this one day online conference jointly organised by the Child & Adolescent Intellectual Disability Psychiatry Network (CAIDPN) and British Academy of Childhood Disability (BACD).  The conference focuses on the physical health of children and young people with learning disabilities.

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  • 13

    Autism and Co-occurring Conditions: Adapting Psychological Therapies

    Professor Franscisco Musich leads a session to understand transdiagnostic and trans-protocol adaptations for autistic individuals, identify specific protocol adaptations, and to recognize current limitations and outline future directions for research.

    Event type
    Intermediate level
    Location
    LIVE STREAM
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  • 09

    Ask Attwood – Autism & Anxiety

    Are you a parent looking for trusted, practical advice on supporting your child with anxiety? For the first time in this new “Ask Attwood” format, world-renowned Clinical Psychologist Professor Tony Attwood will offer a short introduction to the key themes of anxiety in young people, before answering your questions live.

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  • Black girl and grandmother lying on grass, overhead close up

    Insights from Two Decades of Statewide Data on the Diagnostic Rates among Autistic Females

    A 2024 study by Harrop and colleagues reflects how the landscape of autism diagnosis for females has evolved. Drawing on more than 10,000 diagnostic records from the TEACCH Autism Program in North Carolina, spanning the years 2000 to 2021, the study reveals a steady increase in the proportion of females identified as autistic. While diagnostic pathways are becoming more inclusive, late recognition remains a concern, highlighting the ongoing need for approaches that acknowledge the diversity of autistic experience.

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  • Young Child Engaged with a Mobile Device, Exploring Digital Content

    Validation of a Mobile App for Remote Autism Screening in Toddlers

    A 2025 multi-site study led by Dawson and colleagues evaluated a mobile app called “SenseToKnow,” designed for accessible, early autism screening in toddlers. The results suggest digital approaches as a promising way to make early identification more accessible, objective, and equitable for all families.

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